No. 318 - A MIRACLE IN THE MOUNTAINS

No. 318
Jim Davidson...NEWSPAPER COLUMN
A MIRACLE IN THE MOUNTAINS

You may have heard the old saying that goes, “There is no limit to what a person can do so long as he or she does not care who gets the credit.” This is a truism that I have seen work many times in my own life as well as in the lives of countless others. However, if we took a moment to make a slight change in this saying, our power to get things done would be increased a million fold. The change that I would suggest is simply this, “There is no limit to what a person can do if he or she made absolutely sure that God got the credit.”
The reason I have shared this with you is because of a recent letter I received from a male reader in Hot Springs National Park, Arkansas. This gentleman had some nice things to say about my column and he also included a recent annual report for the Charitable Christian Medical Clinic. As I began to read this report I came under strong conviction that God had performed and is still performing a “Miracle In The Mountains” through many, many volunteers who did not want their name used in any way. As this man who wrote me stated, “For anyone to claim credit for what God has surely done would be wrong.”
Because of their compassion and love for Jesus Christ, doctors, nurses and countless other volunteers have made it possible for the poor and needy in this community to receive free medical care. If you had a chance to read this annual report, you would find a story that would bring tears to your eyes as you realize that people really do care and they are willing to selflessly give of their time and resources to help others who are less fortunate. Permit me to share just a small portion of an article titled, “A Bedtime Story” that will give you a glimpse of what I am saying.
“Once upon a time near the end of the second millennium, God looked down on a beautiful city surrounded by lakes and mountains and forestland. He saw pain and suffering because many of the people He loved needed medical care for their bodies and for their souls. In the city, God found a compassionate man of medicine who loved Him. God asked this man to provide treatment and medicine and to show God’s love to people who could not afford medicine. This man did not know how to do this because there were so many who needed help.
The man looked for help. He looked among people with various knowledge, skills and abilities. All of them knew and loved God. The man called them together and they came. There was a person of business, a person of law, a person who sold medicine, a government worker, a preacher, even an old soldier and others. This man asked them if they thought this task, which the Lord has laid on his heart, could be done in the beautiful little city. He asked them for their help in ministering to the sick.
After a considerable amount of time spent in prayer, organization, identifying needs and securing a building they began to pool their resources. The story continues, “They began to organize the volunteer workers and train and practice as if preparing for battle. When they were ready they invited the sick people who could not afford treatment or
medicine and more than twice as many people came as were expected. None were turned away.”
The Charitable Christian Medical Clinic in Hot Springs, Arkansas continues to grow. When they outgrew their building God provided a bigger building. When I read the list of all the volunteers who give their time and talent free of charge, I knew without a doubt that God had truly performed and is still performing a “Miracle In The Mountains.” There is no limit to what anyone of us can do when we give God the credit. (Jim Davidson is a motivational speaker and syndicated columnist. You may contact him at 2 Bentley Drive, Conway, AR 72034.)